5 Laughable Myths about Aging

By Melissa Hill, 8:42 pm on October 9, 2014

At Home Care Assistance of Edmond and Oklahoma City, we believe that aging is gift, and that a senior’s older years should be spent doing the things they love, all from the comfort of home. However, there is a societal stigma associated with getting older, with many people believing that the golden years are not a time to thrive, but a time to wait for the inevitable. Today, we’re going to prove how this isn’t quite the truth. With people living longer today than at any other point in history, it’s time to debunk some of the most common myths about aging!

Elderly People Feel Old – Most seniors feel much younger than their chronological age. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, the gap between actual and perceived age grows wider as people age. Survey participants over 50 reported feeling up to 19 years younger.

Seniors Can’t Learn New Technologies – When seniors are motivated, they can adapt to new ideas and technologies as easily as younger people. The same Pew survey mentioned above found that 71 percent of Internet users age 65 and older go online every day to shop, seek information and stay in touch with family and friends. Concerned about the learning curve? Check out this inspiring senior video, a trailer for a film that shows seniors learning and embracing today’s technology.

Older People Are Stuck in Their Ways – Multiple clinical studies have shown than people can change their behaviors and enjoy an improved quality of life even very late in life. One study focused on 50 seniors over the age of 87 starting a weight-lifting program. After 10 weeks, they had increased their muscle strength by 113 percent.

Every Older Person Will Develop Dementia – Around 10 percent of people over age 65 have dementia. While the chance of developing the disease increases as people age, two out of three seniors over age 85 never demonstrate symptoms of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Elderly People Are Socially Isolated – While social isolation is a real problem for many seniors, the relationships that older people maintain are often rich and meaningful. Seniors tend to value friendships more than younger people and are often better at resolving personal conflicts in order to preserve the relationship.

If your once vibrant parent or loved one seems to have lost their zest for life, don’t contribute this decline to the natural aging process. More and more seniors and older adults are continuing to live happy, healthy lives thanks to the support of family, friends and professional support services that provide assistance and companionship such as Oklahoma hourly home care.

To learn more about senior health and wellness or to discuss in-home care services from Home Care Assistance of Oklahoma, reach out to a Care manager at 405-285-4191. Help us change the way the world ages and debunk some of the most common myths about aging!